Affective lability and impulsivity in a clinical sample of women with bulimia nervosa: the role of affect in severely dysregulated behavior.
OBJECTIVE
The primary aim of this study was to examine the role of affective lability in maladaptive behaviors in a sample of women who meet DSM criteria for current bulimia nervosa (BN).


METHODS
Participants were administered a semistructured diagnostic interview (SCID-P) and only those who currently met criteria for BN (N = 134) were included in the analyses. All other data were collected through the use of self-report questionnaires.


RESULTS
Affective lability significantly predicted the Impulsive Behavior Scale score (sr = 0.21, t = 2.64, p < .009, f(2) = 0.06) and excessive reassurance seeking (sr = 0.21, t = 2.74, p < .007, f(2) = 0.06), even when controlling for age, depressive symptoms, state and trait anxiety, and general impulsivity.


CONCLUSIONS
The degree to which individuals with BN experience labile emotions is associated with several indicators of dysregulated behavior such that higher levels of affective lability predict a more severely dysregulated behavioral profile.
Anestis
Michael D
MD
Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301, USA.
Peterson
Carol B
CB
Bardone-Cone
Anna M
AM
Klein
Marjorie H
MH
Mitchell
James E
JE
Crosby
Ross D
RD
Wonderlich
Stephen A
SA
Crow
Scott J
SJ
le Grange
Daniel
D
Joiner
Thomas E
TE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult